She told them her story of abuse by Dr. Larry Nassar, the Team USA gymnastics physician. Nassar, who possessed child pornography and assaulted gymnasts, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison in one of three criminal cases.

Hogshead-Makar said young athletes are at risk for abuse by the adults they trust most.

“Coaches can abuse their power, like Harvey Weinstein-like power, over scholarships, and playing time, and skill development, and how much attention they get, and whether or not they get introduced to the college coach,” Hogshead-Makar said.

She’s urging representatives across the country to support the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017.

“It gives the Olympic committee and all of the national governing bodies – so USA swimming, USA gymnastics, USA track and field, etc., there’s 47 of these – gives them all a legal duty to protect that kid from abuse,” Hogshead-Makar said.

The law doesn’t just protect Olympic athletes; it also makes adults who work with kids in club sports mandatory reporters of abuse, the way teachers and physicians already are.

“They won’t be able to just let a coach quietly go away. They’re going to have to report them both to police and to this new entity that’s going to be created by the statute called Safe Sport,” Hogshead-Makar said.

She said the changes would create a safer playing field in Jacksonville and across the country.